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Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection

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Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection MS-120, Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection Collection Number: MS-120 Title: Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection Dates: 1942-2007 (bulk 1942-1978) Creator: WWII Night Fighters Summary/Abstract: Consists of records from the Night Fighters Association, WWII Night Fighters organization, and personal papers from members of the organization, relating to Night Fighter Squadrons serving in World War II. Includes pilot tests, squadron reports, individual flight records, rosters, unpublished chronologies of the 6th and 417th Night Fight Squadrons, and photographs. The collection also includes an audio recording of the 1978 Night Fighter Reunion held in Dayton, Ohio, and photos and video from the 2007 Night Fighter Reunion held in Reading, Pennsylvania. Quantity/Physical Description: 3.00 linear feet & 12.3 GB Language(s): English Repository: Special Collections and Archives, Paul Laurence Dunbar Library, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435-0001, (937) 775-2092. Restrictions on Access: There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection with the exception of audiotapes and electronic files. Due to preservation concerns, original audio and video materials cannot be accessed in the reading room. Patrons may have access to reference copies. Items without reference copies can be digitized at the request of a patron for the cost of creating a digital copy. Please provide us at least two (2) weeks advance notice if you would like to request an audio or video reference copy. Call (937) 775-2092 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Use of digitized content is subject to conditions governing use. Electronic files in this collection are not accessible until the files are fully processed. Requests to prioritize processing of electronic records in this collection can be submitted for consideration. Restrictions on Use: Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. MS-120: Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection 1 Preferred Citation: [Description of item, Date, Box #, Folder #], MS-120, Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. Acquisition: The papers were acquired from individuals who had served as night fighters in Europe and in the Pacific. Accruals: Additions may occur in the future. Separated Material: Four drawings by Gary Olson (donated by Earl Tigner), are located in oversize Location 4, folders 9-12. Four books on the Northrop P-61, donated by Earl Tigner, are available in the reading room: Pilot’s Manual for Northrop P-61, Black Widow (1977). TL685.3 N67 Warren Thompson, Northrop P-61 Black Widow. Warbird Tech Series, Vol. 15 (1997). UG1242.F5 T465 1997 Garry R. Paper, with John M. and Donna Campbell, Northrop P-61: black Widow; The Complete History and Combat Record. (1991). UG1242.F5 P36 1991 Garry R. Paper and Ronald C. Harrison, Queen of the Midnight Skies: The Story of America’s Air Force Night Fighters. (1992). UG1242.F5 P214 1992 Other Finding Aid: The finding aid is available on the Special Collections & Archives, Wright State University Libraries web site at http://www.libraries.wright.edu/special/collection_guides/guide_files/ms120.pdf. It is also available in the OhioLINK Finding Aid Repository at http://ead.ohiolink.edu/xtf-ead/ . Related Material: While this collection will be useful for a history of night fighters, it probably cannot stand as the sole source for such a history. The researcher should consult the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, as well as the United States Air Force Historical Division at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, for additional material. Processed by: Randall D. Green, 1981 October. Additions processed by Lynda Kachurek, 2006 October; Garret B. Kremer-Wright, 2007 May; Patricia A. McEldowney, 2012; Lisa Rickey, 2017. Finding aid revised according to DACS in 2015 by Toni Vanden Bos. Arrangement: The collection is arranged into 19 series by name of Night Fighter: Series I: Kent Blyler Papers, Undated Series II: Robert W. Boucher Papers, 1943-1946 Series III: Don Dessert Papers, 1976 Series IV: Dick Ehlert Papers, 1942-1944 MS-120: Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection 2 Series V: Joe Gonzales Papers, 1943 Series VI: Edward F. Jones Papers, 1944-1945 Series VII: George R. Ludlow Photographs, 1945 Series VIII: William C. Odell Papers, 1942 Series IX: Earl Tigner Photographs, 1945 Series X: Thomas C. Tillman Papers, 1970-1971 Series XI: Gordon T. Timmons Interview, 1978 Series XII: Night Fighters’ Reunion, 1978 June 30-July 2 Series XIII: Gary Olson Drawings, 1988 Series XIV: Earl Tigner Books on P-61, 2006 Series XV: World War II Night Fighters Records, 1942-2001 Series XVI: Frank Bosch Papers, 1943-2004 Series XVII: William Graham Papers, 1942-1992 Series XVIII: Richard Dawson Papers, 1942-1945 Series XIX: Night Fighters’ Reunion, 2007 Sep. 17-18 Historical Note: As early as 1940, American strategists had an interest in night flying. British fighter pilots were flying aircraft designed for day and night flying. The aircraft they flew were painted black on one side and a pale finish on the other side. These early night fighters relied on moonlight, searchlights, and sometimes ground based radar, since there were no radar-equipped aircraft. In October 1940, Northrop Aircraft Inc., of Hawthorne, Calif., was asked by the United States Air Corps to develop an aircraft that could be used specifically for night fighting. For the interim period, the Douglas P-70 Havoc bomber was used. It proved to be an ineffective night fighter. Some squadrons in Europe were flying British made Bristol Beaufighters, which also proved to be ineffective. By early 1944, the Northrop P-61 Black Widow was put into service in the Pacific. It was in use in Europe by the summer of 1944. The aircraft received its nick-name because of the semi-shiny black color it was painted. This radar-equipped aircraft proved to be an excellent night fighter. One of the few training schools for night-fighting crews was in Florida at Orlando Air Base. The training center was under the direction of the Fourth Air Force. All night fighter personnel were volunteers, the pilots having had day fighter training. In 1943 the instructors consisted of specialists from the Bell Telephone Laboratories, British night fighter crews, and American crews who had trained in England. The pilots were trained in Douglas P-70 Havocs, and the radar operators were trained in Beech AT-11's. In 1944, the entire program was moved to Hammer Field in Calif., with the Fourth Air Force still retaining command. At Hammer Field, British instructors were phased out. The pilots and radar operators were officers, while the gunners and crew chiefs were usually enlisted men. It was necessary for the pilot and radar operator to work like a finely tuned machine, so it was important to avoid a conflict in personalities. Before coming to the school, the pilots were trained in North American B-25 Mitchells, with intensive work on instrument flying. During night MS-120: Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection 3 fighter training, the pilot learned high and low altitude night fighting, evasive maneuvers, and aerial gunnery. It was necessary to establish close cooperation with Ground Controlled Interception. The GCI was important, since it brought the fighter to within close proximity of the target. After graduation, the crews were sent overseas where they were attached to larger units. Once the crews left for overseas duty, the Fourth Air Force relinquished command of them. Night fighter squadrons served in the Pacific and in Europe. In 1951, the Night Fighter Association was formally organized by former members of WWII night fighter squadrons. In 1984, the WWII Night Fighters organization was incorporated as an independent non-profit veterans’ organization with the purpose to promote and conduct fraternal activities by those who served in Night Fighter Squadrons during World War II, and to give financial assistance, when appropriate, to family members of deceased Night Fighters. The organization was dissolved in 2001. Scope and Content The collection is composed of official records of the Night Fighters Association incorporated in 1951, the WWII Night Fighters organization incorporated in 1984 which dissolved in 2001, as well as personal papers from members of various night fighter squadrons. A series was established for each individual donor to the collection, most of whom were night fighters. These papers are not comprehensive, but among these individual series are pilots' tests and certificates, squadron reports, individual flight records, rosters, transfer orders, unpublished chronologies of the 6th and 417th Night Fighter Squadrons, photographs, and some miscellaneous material. Series XV contains official records and financial records of the Night Fighters Association and the WWII Night Fighters organization, including articles of incorporation, minutes, newsletters, and correspondence. The collection also includes cassettes and a reel-to-reel tape of the 1978 Night Fighters Reunion held in Dayton, Ohio, and a taped interview with Gordon T. Timmons, who was at one time, commander of the 415th Night Fighter Squadron. Series I: Kent Blyler Papers, Undated A poem which Mr. Blyler found in his old diary. He maintained the diary while stationed on Guadalcanal with the 6th Night Fighter Squadron. Series II: Robert W. Boucher Papers, 1943-1946 Pilots' tests and certificates, squadron reports, individual flight records, photographs, and miscellaneous material. Mr. Boucher served with the 421st and the 548th Night Fighter Squadrons. Series III: Don Dessert Papers, 1976 An article copied from Air Classics, August 1976, titled, "Night Lightning." Mr. Dessert is mentioned in the article. MS-120: Night Fighters of World War II Historical Collection 4 Series IV: Dick Ehlert Papers, 1942-1944 First draft of a chronology taken from Mr.
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